Franke family of Roggen recognized as Family of the Year by Rocky Mountain Farmers Union

The Family of the Year award was presented to the Franke family by Rocky Mountain Farmers Union President Kent Peppler during the general farm organization’s annual convention held Nov. 13-14. “When I look at the families who have received this award in the past, I think this organization has been blessed with great people,” Peppler said in a Facebook post.

Chad Franke remembers a time when farmers' wives would call his dad to ask him to check the barns for their missing husbands.

The wheat market crash left farmers deep in debt in the early '80s, and their families were nervous about what they might find when their loved ones disappeared for a few hours.

That's why Franke's parents, Vernon and Joan, worked with the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union to create a suicide line. At that time, Vernon and Joan farmed in Akron, a small town on the plains east of Greeley.

"Overnight, people went from being in a stable financial situation to being beyond bankrupt," Franke said. "There were hundreds of foreclosures."

The suicide line was just one example of how Vernon and Joan lifted the farm community. Their efforts — along with the efforts Chad Franke is putting in with the organization today — have earned the Frankes the Family of the Year award from the farmers union.

The award was presented in November at the farmers union annual convention to Joan Franke and Chad Franke along with his siblings Van, Kaprice and Sharel.

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Because of the stress on so many farmers, Vernon, who has since died, helped to start the Colorado Coalition to Save Rural America, the parent organization that headed up the suicide lines. Vernon took on many leadership roles in the farmers union throughout the years, and Joan continued that work after her husband died in 1999.

Chad Franke remembers growing up with the organization. He went to the farmer's union youth camp every year, and he helped organize fundraisers and galas. Now his own kids, Tim, 14, and Brooke, 11, do the same in between helping with Franke's small pig farm in Roggen.

Tim is coming up on the age when Chad first started to understand the importance of the farmers union. Chad remembers his dad being elected to the board of directors in 1984, and he remembers his dad deciding not to run when the time came in 1995. He was elected by a write-in vote.

"They wouldn't let him quit," Chad said with a chuckle.

That was when it all started to click for Chad. "I was a senior that year. At that point you start seeing what actually happens."

Van and his wife Grace live near Sterling. Sharel and her husband Rob Cameron live in Windsor.

Joan still lives on the homestead in Akron that was settled by her ancestors. She and Kaprice still run the farm.

His father died at the age of 60, when Chad was still in his mid-20s, so Chad said he's had to get a lot of the stories from his mom and others. But he already knew the importance of the farmers union from watching his father as he grew up. That's one reason he's now president of the Weld County Farmers Union. His wife, Carolyn, is the county youth leader and education director.

Chad said he is focusing on growing the active membership in the farmers union.

"We're trying to show that there's benefits to being an active member instead of just being a member," he said.

The farmers union gives its members information on important legislation and represents their causes to the legislature. The organization also offers educational opportunities as well as networking opportunities, which, Chad said, is important because "we're so spread out here."

He believes encouraging new farmers is vital to the industry. Farmers make up only about 1 percent of the population, he said. They need new, young blood joining the industry.

"At 39, I'm a young farmer," he said. "You go into any other industry and someone who is 39 is tenured."

That sometimes makes him worry.

Carolyn said there isn't enough encouragement for young farmers to join the industry.

She married into the farming life, but now that she's in it, she understands the significance of carrying it on.

"It makes you appreciate community and family more," she said. "You really depend on your community and your family."

Frankes Family of the Year

The Family of the Year award was presented to the Franke family by Rocky Mountain Farmers Union President Kent Peppler during the general farm organization’s annual convention held Nov. 13-14. “When I look at the families who have received this award in the past, I think this organization has been blessed with great people,” Peppler said in a Facebook post.